Slaying unsolved nearly 4 years later

Relatives say killer was after victim’s settlement money

Published: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, April 8, 2013 at 11:38 p.m.

It’s been four years since someone shot and killed Jerrold Lewis during a robbery at a rural Hale County home.

Lewis, 37, had just collected a hefty insurance payment after a settlement from a vehicle accident. A lot of people in the Sawyerville community knew he was carrying cash — and a lot of it.

“He had just gotten a payment of $13,000 to $15,000,” said his aunt, Jennifer Davis. “He was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back. When he got that money, he was buying everything for everybody. That’s what got him in trouble.”

Davis believes that the killer knew Lewis had planned to spend the night at the home of a woman he had been dating the night of July 1, 2009.

“I believe that the robbery was intentional, but the murder was accidental,” Davis said. “I think that if they have a conscience, eventually they’re going to have to come forward in order to get some peace.”

Crissy Evans, Lewis’ sister, said that she is optimistic that the crime will one day be solved. Hale County Sheriff Kenneth Ellis stopped by her mother’s house as recently as two weeks ago.

“He said ‘I just want y’all to know that I haven’t given up on this case,’ ” she said. “I know they haven’t given up.”

She still feels the grief she felt after being awakened to news that her older brother had been killed.

“It’s rough. It’s completely different than when you have a family member die from natural causes,” she said.

Jerrold Lewis was one of two brothers who grew up with three sisters in the Sawyerville community. The extended family members all live within a mile of one another and are close.

There’s always a point during family barbecues, Sunday dinners and holiday gatherings where everyone becomes silent because they’re thinking about Lewis, Davis said.

“He was well-loved. He was a family man who was taken away from his children. The community pitched in to help with his funeral expenses. That’s how loved he was in the community,” she said.

Evans and Davis didn’t shy away from discussing Lewis’ criminal past. He had spent time in jail for theft, robbery and a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.

“I said at his funeral that while he would give you the shirt off his back, he may turn around and take it back from you,” Davis said. “But he never did anything violent to hurt anyone. He really was kind-hearted.”

Ellis said that he thinks the case would be solved if witnesses were willing to talk or could be enticed by the $5,000 reward money offered by the governor’s office.

“The bad part about this is that I think these are people who knew him,” Ellis said. “I’m sure that some people know about it and just don’t have the morals or courage to come forward and let us know what happened.”

The Sheriff’s Office recently posted a flier asking for the community’s help.

“In the Greensboro and Sawyerville communities, where everybody knows everybody, someone needs to come forward with information concerning this crime,” Ellis wrote. “For those who called Jerrold a friend, how can you know something about this crime and not come forward, or worse, do nothing? I pray this will never happen to you or any of your families. Please help me help the Jerrold Lewis family.”

Davis said that she has already forgiven whoever killed her nephew.

“Even when they come forward, I’m still going to love them. We all make mistakes,” she said. “If I held a grudge, it would cause more pain and suffering than what they’re going through. I think it’s hurting them just as much as it’s hurting us.”

<p>It's been four years since someone shot and killed Jerrold Lewis during a robbery at a rural Hale County home. </p><p>Lewis, 37, had just collected a hefty insurance payment after a settlement from a vehicle accident. A lot of people in the Sawyerville community knew he was carrying cash — and a lot of it.</p><p>“He had just gotten a payment of $13,000 to $15,000,” said his aunt, Jennifer Davis. “He was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back. When he got that money, he was buying everything for everybody. That's what got him in trouble.”</p><p>Davis believes that the killer knew Lewis had planned to spend the night at the home of a woman he had been dating the night of July 1, 2009. </p><p>“I believe that the robbery was intentional, but the murder was accidental,” Davis said. “I think that if they have a conscience, eventually they're going to have to come forward in order to get some peace.”</p><p>Crissy Evans, Lewis' sister, said that she is optimistic that the crime will one day be solved. Hale County Sheriff Kenneth Ellis stopped by her mother's house as recently as two weeks ago.</p><p>“He said 'I just want y'all to know that I haven't given up on this case,' ” she said. “I know they haven't given up.”</p><p>She still feels the grief she felt after being awakened to news that her older brother had been killed. </p><p>“It's rough. It's completely different than when you have a family member die from natural causes,” she said.</p><p>Jerrold Lewis was one of two brothers who grew up with three sisters in the Sawyerville community. The extended family members all live within a mile of one another and are close.</p><p>There's always a point during family barbecues, Sunday dinners and holiday gatherings where everyone becomes silent because they're thinking about Lewis, Davis said.</p><p>“He was well-loved. He was a family man who was taken away from his children. The community pitched in to help with his funeral expenses. That's how loved he was in the community,” she said.</p><p>Evans and Davis didn't shy away from discussing Lewis' criminal past. He had spent time in jail for theft, robbery and a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge. </p><p>“I said at his funeral that while he would give you the shirt off his back, he may turn around and take it back from you,” Davis said. “But he never did anything violent to hurt anyone. He really was kind-hearted.”</p><p>Ellis said that he thinks the case would be solved if witnesses were willing to talk or could be enticed by the $5,000 reward money offered by the governor's office.</p><p>“The bad part about this is that I think these are people who knew him,” Ellis said. “I'm sure that some people know about it and just don't have the morals or courage to come forward and let us know what happened.”</p><p>The Sheriff's Office recently posted a flier asking for the community's help.</p><p>“In the Greensboro and Sawyerville communities, where everybody knows everybody, someone needs to come forward with information concerning this crime,” Ellis wrote. “For those who called Jerrold a friend, how can you know something about this crime and not come forward, or worse, do nothing? I pray this will never happen to you or any of your families. Please help me help the Jerrold Lewis family.”</p><p>Davis said that she has already forgiven whoever killed her nephew.</p><p>“Even when they come forward, I'm still going to love them. We all make mistakes,” she said. “If I held a grudge, it would cause more pain and suffering than what they're going through. I think it's hurting them just as much as it's hurting us.”</p><p>Reach Stephanie Taylor at </p><p>stephanie.taylor@tuscaloosa</p><p>news.com or 205-722-0210.</p>